Messi and Simeone, the pick of 2012

Leo Messi has grabbed the most headlines and earned the most plaudits during 2012. Despite only winning a single trophy with Barcelona over the previous twelve months –the Spanish Cup– the Argentine remains most people's tip for player of the year. The poll run on MARCA.com is no exception.

The more than 115,000 people who took part in the poll have voted the Barcelona number 10 the best player of 2012. Messi, who has set a new record for goals in a calendar year (90), garnered 60% of the votes, with Cristiano (14.4%) and Falcao (10.6%) trailing some way behind him.

Simeone won out in the coach of the year vote. He arrived at Atlético with the club in turmoil, languishing in the league and having been knocked out of the cup by third-division outfit Albacete. Now, one year on, the 'Mattress Makers' have another Europa League and European Super Cup in their trophy cabinet, and sit second in the 'La Liga' table, breaking the Real Madrid-Barcelona duopoly in the process.

José Mourinho, meanwhile, picked up just 16.5% of the votes, putting him third out of the 10 coaches put forward in the poll, ahead of Guardiola (13%). Above the Portuguese lies Tito Vilanova (16.8%), whose second-placed ranking comes as recognition for the record start to the league season he has overseen in the Barça dugout.